Memphis Steam Laundry Cleaner, Inc. v. Stone

342 U.S. 389 · Decided March 3, 1952 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Memphis Steam Laundry Cleaner, Inc. v. Stone was decided on March 3, 1952 by a vote of 8–1. The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “State or local government tax” in the Economic Activity area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

Memphis Steam Laundry Cleaner, Inc. v. Stone, Chairman, State Tax Commission

SCDB identifiers: case 1951-042, docket 1951-042-01.

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Cases on the same legal provision: Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 3 (interstate commerce clause)

• Breard v. Alexandria
  341 U.S. 622Decided June 4, 19516–3Stanley F. Reed
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  344 U.S. 157Decided December 8, 19525–4Hugo L. Black
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• Dean Milk Co. v. City of MadisonLaw held unconstitutional
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• California v. Zook
  336 U.S. 725Decided April 25, 19495–4Frank Murphy
• Toomer v. WitsellLaw held unconstitutional
  334 U.S. 385Decided June 7, 19489–0Fred M. Vinson

Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)

• McMahon v. United States
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• Lorain Journal Co. v. United States
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• United States v. Fortier
  342 U.S. 160Decided December 11, 19518–0Per curiam
• Desper v. Starved Rock Ferry Co.
  342 U.S. 187Decided January 2, 19527–2Robert H. Jackson
• United States v. Kelly
  342 U.S. 193Decided January 2, 19526–3Sherman Minton
• Pillsbury v. United Engineering Co.
  342 U.S. 197Decided January 2, 19526–3Sherman Minton

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error